By Nadine Moedt (The Cascade) – Email
Print Edition: January 7, 2015
It seems we’ve reached that point in our lives when we begin receiving those gilded and meticulously calligraphed save-the-dates inviting us to share in the joy of our friends’, coworkers’, or peers’ weddings.
Those of us reaching the end of our degrees have likely attended more than a few weddings and, with some trepidation, have begun to consider the possibility of our own trip to the altar. Start researching how to plan a wedding and you’ll soon find that wedding culture demands perfection. It demands you spend lavishly. It demands the bride wear white and be draped with jewels, that the groom be as deep-pocketed as he is uninvolved. It demands Pinteresty perfection and crippling post-nuptials debt. The average cost of a wedding, according to bridal magazine the Knot, is $28,858.
$28,858.
Wedding culture thrives on stereotypes. Walk into any jewellery store as a couple and you’ll be directed to ring sets that will devour a year’s tuition; the salesperson assumes that the bride-to-be must be bought with diamonds. Nearly every avenue for wedding information, from advertising to personal blogs, caters to the woman. It’s her special day, after all. The day she’s been dreaming about since she was a little girl because, you know, getting married is every woman’s major life goal.
This wedding culture applies pressure directly, but it also affects one’s planning in less obvious ways. Your family’s expectations of a flawless day and a bountiful celebration — of a strict adherence to a stale tradition — works to further enforce this wedding culture. A financial contribution to the day may come with strings attached.
So how can the average student navigate this pervasive, unreasonably expensive, and sexist wedding culture? How can you plan for a day that reflects your relationship on a budget? How can you sidestep the stress and stereotypes?
Not to worry! The Cascade is here to help! Our Holy Moly Matrimony series will discuss the ins and outs of wedding culture, on everything from ring shopping to venue scouting, from caterer tastings to itinerary sketching. Follow newly engaged Sasha Moedt as she wades through tradition in search of a modern flavour of matrimony. Among other various contributors is the newlywed Anthony Biondi, who will share his hard-earned wisdom on how to pull off a student-friendly wedding.
Need specifics? Feel free to write in for advice. Contact nadine@ufvcascade.ca with questions about your upcoming nuptials.
